Apparatus for producing half molds by pressing



y 1967 I. s. SAEV ETAL 3,318,365

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HALF MOLDS BY PRESSING Filed Jan. 5 1965 5Sheets$heet 1 UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE &O

y 1967 1. s. SAEV ETAL 3,318,365

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HALF MOLDS BY PRESSING Filed Jan. 5, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 2 gnugungnununqpnnqnuqpnuqauupnunpnuqnuuuuuuqpnuq II II IIH 111: i: 1* ll iiii II II II IUUUUI]UUEIDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE H5. lb

May 9, 1967 l. s. SAEV ETAL 3,313,365

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HALF MOLDS BY PRESSING Filed Jan. 5, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 3 f/GJ United States Patent Jakovlevich Shntkevich, andGrigory Mikhailovich .Iafet,

all of Leningrad, U.S.S.R., assignors to Kirovsky masclrinostroitelnyimetallurgichesky Zavod, Leningrad, USSR.

Filed Jan. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 423,480 3 Claims. (Cl. 164-14) Theinvention relates to foundry equipment and more particularly toapparatus for producing foundry shell half molds by a pressing methodused for obtaining shaped castings.

There are conventional installations for obtaining shell half molds bypressing in which a flask and a pattern or bottom board are deliveredunder a press where a certain batch of molding sand is charged into theflask by means of a batcher unit. Any excess sand accumulated over thetop edge of the flask is forced inside the flask by a punch rigidlymounted on a movable crosspiece of the press. The pattern is removedfrom the shell half mold, which is rammed by the above technique, andthe prepared shell half mold is delivered to be assembled.

The operation of such conventional installations requires considerablemanual labor, and the difliculties of obtaining shell half molds forcastings of various sizes and shapes are increased due to the intricateand time-consuming readjustments of the installation mechanisms.

An object of this invention is to provide foundry apparatus which willeleminate the above disadvantages.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whichwill allow shell half molds for castings of various sizes and shapes tobe pressed in flasks of different heights without readjustment of theapparatus as well as without the use of manual labor.

These objects are achieved by pressing shell half molds with the aid ofseveral punches of desired configurations operating sequentially and toposition the punches under the press, and withdraw the same therefrom,with the punches being mounted on self-propelled wheeled carriagesinstalled on a frame capable of vertical travel to bring the requiredcarriage to the specified level when the same is placed under the press.

In addition, the apparatus is provided with a filler frame mounted onthe press column together with a horizontally-travelling box, the frontwall of which is capable of upward and downward movement, and a removalframe which are arranged above and beneath the filler frame respectivelyand used for batching, uniform distributing of the molding sand in theflask and removing excess sand from the top edge of the flask afterpressing.

To mechanize the manufacture of the shell half molds, the apparatus isequipped with conveyors for transferring the flasks during themanufacturing operations, a mechanism for placing an empty flask on abottom board, a mold tilter and a mechanism for withdrawing patternsfrom the shell half molds.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more readilyapparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailedspecification and accompany- 3,318,365 Patented May 9, 1967 ingdrawings, and in which drawings: FIGS. 1a and 1b are a top view of thepresent apparatus; FIG. 2 is a side view of said apparatus; and FIG. 3is a diagrammatic view of the means for operating the wheeled carriagesor bogies.

A flask with a pattern or bottom board is adapted to be delivered to apress 1 (FIG. 1) of a hydraulic four-c01- umn type, and bed 2 of whichhas a recess for a mechanism for transferring the flasks. A topcross-head 3 and a movable cross-head 4 of the press are formed withsquare openings to admit molding sand to be charged therein with the aidof a conveyor. The movable crosshead 4 is equipped with two channels 5which are fastened perpendicularly to the direction of travel of theflask. Wheeled carriages 6 are capable of travel along the chan-. nels 5of the movable cross-head 4 and each carriage is constituted by a weldedmetal box-shaped frame. Operably related to each carriage is a driveassemblage including an electric motor 6a, an electromagnetic shoe brake6b, worm reducing gear means 60, output shaft 6d and wheels 6e at theends of the shaft. The electric motor is supplied with current via aflexible conduit mounted on a terminal box provided for a hoistingmechanism 9 for the wheeled carriages. Certain of the wheeled carriages6 are provided with a shaped punch 7 while others with a flat punch 8and the respective punches are attached to the carriages by means ofblocks having T-shaped slots.

From the drawings it will be appreciated that the drive assemblage foreach wheeled carriage 6 permits the carriage to be moved horizontallyalong the channels 5 of the cross-head 4.

To allow the frame complete with the carriages 6 to travel vertically, asupport structure 10 is installed adjacent the press, and such structureincludes a gantry the top of which accommodates a drive defined by anelectric motor, an electromagnet shoe brake and a worm reducer. Thestructure 10 supports a plurality of carriages 6 (two in the presentcase) arranged one above the other, on a pair of channels 11. When thestructure 10 reaches the specified position, one or another pair of thechannels 11 registers with the channels 5 on the movable cross-head 4and, thus, the carriage can run between the gantry and the press, inboth directions (the blocking system being designed so as to allow suchrunning only with the crosshead 4 in its uppermost position).

Arranged on the opposite side of the press 1, with respect to thehoisting mechanism 9 for the carriages 6 is a mechanism 12 for batching,levelling and removing sand. At the level of the top plane of the flaskstravelling under the press 1 with a small clearance such as 25 mm.therefrom, a metal sheet 13 is fastened and such sheet is somewhatlarger than the inside dimensions of the flask. Normal to the directionof the travel of the flask are two rectangular guides 14 along which aremoval frame 15 slides. The guides 14 are secured on the columns of thepress 1 and along the sheet 13 on its sides. The lower plane of theframe 15 passes over the flask and the sheet 13 with a clearance of 2 to4 mm. and is transferred by a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 1-6. Tofasten the piston rod provision is made for an eye-lug on the back wallof the removal frame and front wall of the frame 15 is provided wit-h aknife at its bottom which, when the frame moves from under the press,severs a layer of molding sand from the top edge if the batch provesinaccurate and carries the excess sand away onto sheet 13.

Fastened above the removal frame 15, with the small clearance, isanother sheet 17, the extension of which above the press .is the bottomsurface of a filler frame 18. The sheet 17 and the filler frame 18 allowan open ended box 20 to be moved by means of a pneumatic cylinder andpiston unit 19. The. inside dimensions of the box 20 as well as those ofthe removal frame and the filler frame 18, correspond (to the insidedimensions of the flask. To the lower parts of the side walls of boxsupport-s are welded which are on the guides extending along the sheet17 and form the side walls of the filler frame 1 8 under the press 1.The rear wall of the 'box 20 extends: lower than the side walls andreaches the sheet 13. The front wall 21 extends somewhat higher than theside walls and is movable upwardly and downwardly by mechanical means.When the box 20 moves from under the press 1, molding sand therein iscarried away with the front wall 21 onto the sheet 13 whereas a layerensuring a uniform ramming of the shell half mold during pressing ismaintained over the flask.

Since the front wall 21 is vertically movable, the height of the moldingsand layer to be rammed can be adjusted, which, in turn, allows auniform density of the molding sand to be obtained when high and lowshell half molds are used alternately.

To mechanize the manufacture of the shell half molds in flasks ofvarious height, the apparatus is provided with conveyers 22, 23, 24which serve to transfer the flasks during the manufacturing operation, aflask elevator 25 to lift flasks whose height does not exceed 600 mm, amanipulator means 26 for placing the flasks on the pattern ofbottomboard, a pusher unit 27, a mechanism '28 for feeding the facing sand, atilter for the shell half molds and patterns 29 and 30, a drawingmechanism 31 and roller conveyers 32 and 33 for patterns.

The operation of the present invention is as follows: the conveyer 22delivers empty flasks onto the elevator 25,'and the manipulator means 26transfers a flask from the elevator 25 in its extreme left'position andplaces the flask on thebottom board delivered by mechanism '34. The set.(a pattern or bottom board and a flask) is transferred by the pusherunit 27 onto the conveyor 23 where the feeding mechanism 28 delivers thesand into the flask afterwhich the set is brought under the press 1.When 7 the set is brought under the press 1, the wheeled carriages 6 areon the hoist mechanism 9. After the set is brought under the press 1,the removal frame 15 and the box 20 are also brought into operativerelation thereto, and a mechanism 35 for feeding molding sand deliverssuch sand through the holes in the cross-heads thus filling the flask,the filler frame 18 and the box 20.

When the filling operation is terminated, the box 20 is V removed fromunder the press 1 thereby levelling the sand and making room for thecarriage 6 with a shaped punch 7 which, after pressing the sand, returnonto the hoist mechanism 9 for hoisting the carriages. The secondpressing operation is performed with a flat punch 8 after additionalsand is charged. The removal frame 15 returns -to its initial positionand its knife removes excess sand from the upper edge of the flask. Theset, formed and delivered from under the press, is covered with a bottomplate with the aid of a mechanism 36 for placing the bottom plates whichcomprises a pusher 37, a frame 38 for placing the set of bottom plates,a hoist table 39 and a carriage for transferring the bottom plates.

' After the set of bottom plates is transferred by the pusher 37 fromthe frame 38, it is positioned onto the hoist table 39. The carriage 40with its frame lowered, moves from conveyor 23 to the hoist table 39and, with its hangers, enters the T-shaped slot of the upper bottomplate to raise such plate. When moving in a backward direction, thecarriage 40 brings the bottom onto the axis of the conveyor 23, lowersthe bottom and thus covers the shell half mold.

The hoist table 39 is now free to lift the rest of the bottom plates toa height equal to the plate removed, and this procedure continues untilthe last bottom plate of the set is withdrawn, after which the table isbrought to its lower position, and the next set is positioned thereon.

The set, formed and covered with a bottom plate, is tilted in the moldtilter 29 which consists of a drum having a horizontal axis resting freeon four rolls. Inside of the drum at the top and bottom thereof, twomovable sections of roll tables are assembled. One of the tables servesas an extension for the roll table of the operating flight of conveyor23 when the drum is in one or another position and the sections of theroll tables can move vertically for fixing the flask together with thepattern and bottom board during the tilting operation. The roll tablesmay be driven by four hydro-cylinder piston unit-s.

The shell half mold which is on the bottom plate is delivered to aturntable 41 of conveyor 24 as prepared shell half molds. At the sametime, the bottom board on the flask moves to the grips of drawingmechanism 31 with its slots, and the frame with the grips moves up and,thus withdraws the bottom board from the shell half mold which is thenconveyed to the shell half mold tilter 29. The pattern outfit turns 180,and the conveyor 42 brings the outfit to mechanism 34. If the pattern isto be used again, the mechanism 34 moves the pattern under themanipulator means 26, otherwise, when the pattern is not used in thefurther process of manufacturing shell half molds, the pattern istransferred to the roll conveyor 32 the conveyor 33 delivers anotherpattern to mechanism 34 for the subsequent process.

The installation is controlled by the operators from two panel boards.

This invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity to theshowings in the drawings but changes or modifications may be madetherein so long as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for producing foundry half molds by flask pressing,comprising a base, columns carried by said base, a press including amovable molding cross-head mounted on said columns above the flask andprovided with a throughsopening, means for feeding a molding mixtureinto a flask provided with a bottom board through said opening, furthercolumns located immediately adjacent the press, a frame mounted on saidfurther columns, at least two punches mounted on said frame, means formoving said frame and punches vertically, and means for alternativelymoving said punches horizontally under the cross-head, with saidcross-head transmitting pressure from the punches to the mixture in theimmovable flask.

2. An apparatus for producing foundry half molds by flask pressing,comprising a base, columns carried by said base, a press including amovable molding crossehead mounted on said columns above the flask andprovided with a through opening and horizontal guideways, means forfeeding a molding mixture into a flask providedwith a lower boardthrough said opening, further columns located immediately adjacent thepress, a frame mounted on said further columns and having guideways, atleast two wheeled carriages mounted on said guideways of the frame, anindividual drive for each carriage for causing the carriage to movehorizontal-1y along the guideways of the frame and the cross-head whensaid guideways coincide as the cross-head arrives at its uppermostposition, a punch mounted on each of said carriages for alternativelymoving underneath said molding cross-head for transmitting pressure tothe mixture in the immovable flask through said carriages, and means formoving said frame vertically together 'with the movable punches.

3. The apparatus. for producing foundry half molds as claimed in claim1, including a filler frame split along the horizontal plane, a boxmovable along said frame comprising a vertically movable wall designedfor batch ing and uniformly spreading the molding mixture in the flaskprior to molding, a power drive for moving the box along the frame, saidsplit frame having upper and lower portions, said upper portion beingsecured to said columns for the cross-head and an individual drive formoving the lower portion whereby the lower portion removes excessmolding mixture from the flask after molding.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis et a1 22-20Pirsig 2235 X Miller 22-41 X Hatch 22-20

1. AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FOUNDRY HALF MOLDS BY FLASK PRESSING,COMPRISING A BASE, COLUMNS CARRIED BY SAID BASE, A PRESS INCLUDING AMOVABLE MOLDING CROSS-BAND MOUNTED ON SAID COLUMNS ABOVE THE FLASK ANDPROVIDED WITH A THROUGH OPENING, MEANS FOR FEEDING A MOLDING MIXTUREINTO A FLASK PROVIDED WITH A BOTTOM BOARD THROUGH SAID OPENING, FURTHERCOLUMNS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE PRESS, A FRAME MOUNTED ON SAIDFURTHER COLUMNS, AT LEAST TWO PUNCHES MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, MEANS FORMOVING SAID FRAME AND PUNCHES VERTICALLY, AND MEANS FOR ALTERNATIVELYMOVING SAID PUNCHES HORIZONTALLY UNDER THE CROSS-HEAD, WITH SAIDCROSS-HEAD TRANSMITTING PRESSURE FROM THE PUNCHES TO THE MIXTURE IN THEIMMOVABLE FLASK.